Friday, February 23, 2018

Synopsis:Boxed in by
Aurelian’s siege, Zenobia makes a desperate attempt to enlist the support of
the Persians.

“Palmyra was the last resource of the widow of
Odaenathus.She retired within the walls
of her capital, made every preparation for a vigorous resistance, and declared,
with the intrepidity of a heroine, that the last moment of her reign and of her
life should be the same.” - Gibbon, The
History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

“You have the prospect of such Magnicient Ruines, that if it
be Lawful to frame a Conjecture of the Original Beauty of the place, by what is
still remaining, I question somewhat whether any City in the World could have
challenged Precedence over this in all its Glory.” – W. Halifax, A Relation of a Voyage from Aleppo to
Palmyra in Syria, 1695

Friday, February 9, 2018

Synopsis:After a
crushing defeat at the Battle of Emesa, Zenobia retreats to Palmyra.Aurelian has a divine encounter at the Temple
of Elah Gabal.

“After this, the whole issue of the war was decided near
Emesa in a mighty battle fought against Zenobia and Zabdas, her ally.When Aurelian’s horsemen, now exhausted, were
on the point of breaking their ranks and turning their backs, suddenly by the
power of a supernatural agency, as was afterwards made known, a divine form spread
encouragement throughout the foot-soldiers and even rallied the horsemen.Zenobia and Zabdas were put to flight, and a
victory was won in full.” – The Historia
Augusta